Rawlings in Abuja: Ghana may fail justice test

Ex-President Rawlings thinks for the first time, Ghana may fail to deal with the crimes of a previous regime. Read the full statement he read in Abuja over the weekend.

ADDRESS BY FLT. LT JERRY JOHN RAWLINGS, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF GHANA AT THE EXTRAORDINARY CONGRESS OF THE UNITED CITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS OF AFRICA (UCLGA) IN ABUJA, NIGERIA – SATURDAY, MARCH 6, 2010

Your Excellency, Honourable Ministers of State, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for inviting me to deliver the keynote address at this Congress.

Last December I was at the Africities Conference in Marrakech, Morocco where I spoke into detail about the significance and importance of decentralisation to the political development of the continent.

This Summit I understand is meant to celebrate unity within the association but I am a little disappointed to hear that you are still grappling with that subject.

The problem of unity or the lack of it is down to our inability as a continent to develop our political evolution in a manner that will inspire a little more confidence in the populace. Read more

NPP fears Gbevlo Lartey – Omane Boamah

The Deputy Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, Dr Omane Boamah, says the NPP’s call for the exclusion of National Security Coordinator, Col. (retd) Larry Gbevlo Lartey from the NDC’s 2012 campaign team is borne out of fear.

He said because the opposition New Patriotic Party wronged Gbevlo Lartey when they were in power, they sense that he is seeking vengeance on them.

Col. Larry Gbevlo Lartey has been named as part of the ruling party’s campaign team for the next general elections in 2012.

This has led to calls particularly from the NPP for him to either resign from his national position or be sacked by the president.

NPP General Secretary, Kwadwo Owusu-Afriyie (popularly known as Sir John) has argued that by his position, the National Security Coordinator has no business in meddling in the affairs of a political party, insisting that doing so would compromise his neutrality.

But Dr Boamah thinks there is absolutely nothing wrong with Gbevlo Lartey being a member of the campaign team. Read more

NDC Boss Fumbles Over Gbevlo-Lartey

THE NATIONAL Chairman of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr Kwabena Adjei, had a tough time defending the appointment and role of Lt. Col. Larry Gbevlo-Lartey on the political committee of the party.

Gbevlo-Lartey himself had asked DAILY GUIDE to contact the national executive of the NDC to ascertain the role he would be playing in his new position.

This was when DAILY GUIDE contacted him over his new appointment and whether or not that would not conflict with his role as National Security Coordinator.

Mr. Gbevlo-Lartey admitted he does not know the role he would be playing in his new position and asked this reporter to speak to the national executives who may have an idea about what he is expected to do.

But when DAILY GUIDE managed to reach NDC chairman Dr. Kwabena Adjei, after several efforts, his initial comment was “no comment at all.” Read more

Scandal Hits Castle Boy

CARL WILSON, the darling boy of Alex Segbefia, deputy Chief of Staff who is embroiled in the confiscated cars selling syndicate, has again been fingered in an alleged carting away of stolen goods from the United Kingdom.

As Chairman of the Confiscated Vehicles Committee, Mr. Wilson has been arrested once briefly by security operatives over a number of suspected car deals in the country, but was expectedly released almost immediately, apparently due to his intimate connections with some of the nation’s power brokers.

Carl Wilson has been accused several times of allegedly stealing confiscated cars and selling them on the open market with the help of garage operators.

Member of Parliament (MP) for Manhyia, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has asked government to investigate the deputy Chief of Staff’s man for purportedly taking away at Tema Harbour, 18 confiscated motorbikes believed to have been stolen from London, since the issue has the potential of denting Ghana’s image internationally. Read more

JJ Prays With Atta Mortuary Man

Former President Jerry John Rawlings and his family, on Sunday March 7, attended a church service at the Action Chapel in Accra to thank God for saving them from the devastating inferno that razed down their Ridge official residence on Valentine’s day.

The official residence of the former first family was completely brought down to ashes when fire gutted the property.

Mr. Rawlings’ wife, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings and daughter, Yaa Asantewaa, were present at the time of the incident but managed to escape unhurt.

The family was at the Action Chapel in the company of several friends, sympathizers and some leading members of the NDC to show gratitude to God for keeping them intact despite the unfortunate tragedy.

Former President Jerry Rawlings and his entire family were at the service except his son Kimathy.

Notable among the sympathizers was now famous Atta Kumah popularly called Atta mortuary man, who Mr. Rawlings spoke about during the NDC’s national delegates’ congress in Tamale.

NDC stalwarts Ekwow Spio Garbrah, E.T Mensah and Joshua Alabi were present at the church service. Read more

New Patriotic Party holds retreat

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has held the opening session of a three day retreat at Mankesim in the Central Region to deliberate on the way forward for the party towards building on the restructuring process for elections 2012.

The retreat is the first since the Kumasi Conference that saw the election of the new National Executives. The forum is to provide the opportunity for both the old and new executives to evaluate the state of the party and put into perspective where the outgone Peter Mac Manu-led team have reached in their bid to restructure to recapture power in 2012. And also provide a platform for the new National Chairman Mr. Jake Obetsebi Lamptey and his team of executives to take off towards Agenda 2012. Read more

Exclude Gbevlo Lartey From NDC Campaign Team – Sir John

The General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Kwadwo Owusu-Afriyie, has opposed the inclusion of Lt. Col. Larry Gbevlo Lartey, National Security Co-ordinator, as a member of the political committee of the National Democratic Congress’ (NDC’s) campaign team for election 2012.

Mr Owusu-Afriyie, affectionately called Sir John, argued that such an important national position transcended partisan politics because the security and well-being of the nation were of utmost concern to all Ghanaians.

In an interview with the Daily Graphic in Accra, he said Lt. Col. Gbevlo Lartey should not meddle in political party activities, as that would take away his neutrality. Read more

Big Boost For Youth – As Govt Translates Vision Into Reality

The vision of the government to invest in and inspire the youth in order to accelerate the tempo of development of the nation was given a boost at the 53rd independence anniversary parade Saturday when, in a departure from past anniversary celebrations, the programme was largely conducted by students.

Unlike in the past, music was provided by a mass band from four senior high schools, while the march past itself was performed by youth clubs, cadet groups and students from some selected schools in the Greater Accra Region.

The government’s conviction to get students actively involved in the day’s activities, according to President John Evans Atta Mills in his address, was critical in ensuring that the youth appreciated the struggles and the toil that had brought the country this far and also inculcate in them a sense of nationalism and belonging. Read more

It’s Step In Right Direction – Kufuor

Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has hailed the commitment of President John Evans Atta Mills to invest in the education of the youth and said that would guarantee the country’s future.

Commenting on President Mills’s address to a parade of schoolchildren to mark the 53rd Independence anniversary in which the President had assured the nation that the government would motivate teachers and provide the necessary condition to improve teaching and learning, former President Kufuor said investing in children would “guarantee a responsible and brighter future for the country”.

He stressed that the country’s generation chain would be strengthened if it invested in youth development. Read more

Konadu Calls For Prosecution Of Corrupt NPP Officials

Former first lady and a Vice Chair of the ruling NDC, Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings has called on the Atta Mills led administration to act fast in prosecuting members of the past NPP administration who she says have committed various acts of financial malfeasance.
She made the comment when she spoke on behalf of members of the various sub committees of the party who were sworn into office on Wednesday, March 3. The members who were sworn in by President Mills are to superintend over the activities of the NDC and also take charge of some aspects of the party’s operations vis-à-vis the government. Read more

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